So I had a friend bring up the point that a lot of bad things happen to good people and when talking about his past he said, "I needed to toughen up and solve my own problems because if God could solve my problems then why didn't he solve those problems which were worse like hunger, disease, and death."
I decided to discuss that today because a lot of things have come up with my investigators and recent coverts and I know that this will apply to them as well.
I decided to discuss that today because a lot of things have come up with my investigators and recent coverts and I know that this will apply to them as well.
So.......it all comes down to our purpose. What is our purpose on Earth?
Usually people recognize it as a time for us to learn and grow before we go back to heaven, right? Where we're tested with choice, and we need to make good choices, and if we do, we'll be blessed with good consequences. Right?
Well, if there's choice, that means there's 2 options. Good and bad. Which means there has to be opposition in all things. If there's opposition in all things that means there always has to be bad where there is good.
Now we know that when we make good decisions, good things tend to happen. :) Yet, bad things happen to good people ALL the time, right? For example, I officially have had 2 companions on my mission that have been molested and raped. Here are these wonderful, sweet, generous and giving young women, who've never done ANYTHING wrong, and yet this happened to them.
But back to the purpose: learning/growing and choice.
People have the option to choose bad. BUT if people could never do anything to harm, hurt, scare, kill, annoy, belittle or just be mean to other people, or affect them with their bad choices, then.......it wouldn't be bad................If stealing from a small family owned business never harmed the business or the family....then stealing wouldn't be bad........if lying never hurt or cause ANY problems.....it wouldn't be bad.......etc. Does that make sense?
There HAS to be bad. And there could ONLY be bad, if there are things not of God, or in other words, things that harm the emotional, spiritual, physical or mental well-being of another.
BUT God has not given people the freedom to choose JUST so that the good will suffer. He DOES strengthen us, and enable us. He heals us everyday THROUGH Jesus Christ.
He experienced EVERY pain; physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental that we will EVER go through. Whether it be from us doing something bad, or someone else harming us, or guilt or anything. He felt it all so He can know how to help us. It's like a mom who helps a child with a scraped knee. She's had MANY in her life and so she knows exactly how to heal it. Wash it off, put neosporin on it and put a band aid on it. And she KNOWS it will heal up just fine like it was never there, even though the child thinks it will hurt forever and sting forever. SHE knows it won't, because she's been through it before.
He experienced EVERY pain; physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental that we will EVER go through. Whether it be from us doing something bad, or someone else harming us, or guilt or anything. He felt it all so He can know how to help us. It's like a mom who helps a child with a scraped knee. She's had MANY in her life and so she knows exactly how to heal it. Wash it off, put neosporin on it and put a band aid on it. And she KNOWS it will heal up just fine like it was never there, even though the child thinks it will hurt forever and sting forever. SHE knows it won't, because she's been through it before.
Jesus Christ has been through it before. Not to "one-up" us. But to help us. He's teaching us how to reach a breaking point, and then NOT break.
Yes, people have accomplished SO much in their lives already. BUT I also know, that even though they don't recognize it, Heavenly Father was there, EVERY step of the way to help and guide them. And letting you all know He loves you SO much.
The fact that SO much bad is going on right now, is proof that people are NOT making good choices. They're choosing bad. They're choosing Satan and it's affecting a LOT of people. But I also know with all my heart that God will make it up to EVERY single person who had to suffer because of the terrible choices of others. He will consecrate it for their good. He will make it so those trials strengthen them, and better them.
Those who chose good, chose GOD, but are killed because of the wickedness of others will see more blessings in heaven than you or I can POSSIBLY imagine. I know it. My companions went through SO much in their life. SO much that I can't even begin to imagine, let alone describe but I definitely have NOT endured as much as they. But they know, and I know, that Heavenly Father loves them SO much, and they have been strengthen through the atonement of Jesus Christ and they have felt so much peace and love and have seen so many blessings since those times and as long as they continue to choose good they'll continue to see blessings. They will probably still endure many trials in the future, but it has NOTHING to do with God not being there for them and loving them and helping them. It's just another way for them to learn and grow and be better. :)
Those who chose good, chose GOD, but are killed because of the wickedness of others will see more blessings in heaven than you or I can POSSIBLY imagine. I know it. My companions went through SO much in their life. SO much that I can't even begin to imagine, let alone describe but I definitely have NOT endured as much as they. But they know, and I know, that Heavenly Father loves them SO much, and they have been strengthen through the atonement of Jesus Christ and they have felt so much peace and love and have seen so many blessings since those times and as long as they continue to choose good they'll continue to see blessings. They will probably still endure many trials in the future, but it has NOTHING to do with God not being there for them and loving them and helping them. It's just another way for them to learn and grow and be better. :)
It's like a test at school. No one likes tests. No one like studying. No one likes the stress it causes. No one likes the hard questions and the nervousness and the pain it even causes. BUT, not only does the knowledge you gain from class and the tests help you in your life SO much, but the A you get when you DO endure well, brings SO many rewards.
I hope that all makes sense. I also hope that even though you (whoever I'm speaking to) haven't prayed in a while, or maybe ever, if you try praying again and ask God if all these things I'm talking about are true. REALLY ask. REALLY have the desire to know. And KEEP praying, until you get your answer. I can promise you, that when you do this. You'll begin to feel REAL peace. REAL tranquility, and it may be slow and very subtle at first. But after a little while you'll start recognizing the difference it makes in your days and weeks, and you'll know that He's real and He's there. And He loves you :)
I hope that all makes sense. I also hope that even though you (whoever I'm speaking to) haven't prayed in a while, or maybe ever, if you try praying again and ask God if all these things I'm talking about are true. REALLY ask. REALLY have the desire to know. And KEEP praying, until you get your answer. I can promise you, that when you do this. You'll begin to feel REAL peace. REAL tranquility, and it may be slow and very subtle at first. But after a little while you'll start recognizing the difference it makes in your days and weeks, and you'll know that He's real and He's there. And He loves you :)
In the name of Jesus Christ Amen ;)
But seriously.....try it.....what have you got to lose? A few minutes each day? :)
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